About Us

Johan and Jo-Anne Blaauw are the owners of Blaauwheim Guesthouse.

Johan was born in Keetmanshoop (southern Namibia) and enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the South African National Defence Force, both as a soldier and a diplomat. He was deployed in Namibia, Kenya and Sudan.

Jo-Anne was born in Kimberley (in the Northern Cape) and qualified as a teacher from the University of Stellenbosch.

We were married in 1978 and have two grown up children, Johan and Maritha who are both involved in the hospitality industry.

We retired from the military and education at the end of March 2008 and returned to Somerset West to establish Blaauwheim Guesthouse. We like to travel and to be other people’s guests. We collect South African art and love gardening.

Blaauwheim is our passion and service excellence our aim. After seven successful years in the hospitality industry and scores of happy guests, we are extremely proud of what we have accomplished. Do click on the Trip-Advisor link to read what our guests have said.

Blaauwheim Guesthouse is a place where strangers become friends and friends part of the family. Welcome to true South African hospitality!